Command Chronology - 3rdBn/12thMarines:
Command Chronology - September 1966 - 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines (Rein), 3rd MARDIV

25 SEPTEMBER

At 0650H seventy-two rounds-of 105mm howitzer ammunition were expended as prep fire for the 3d Battalion, 4th Marines in the vicinity of Coordinates YD 007617.

At 0830H Battery “M” silenced VC mortars firing from Coordinates YD 957586 with four rounds of HE quick.

At 1415 Battery ”H” expended one hundred and forty-five rounds of 105mm howitzer ammunition attacking automatic weapons that were firing from Coordinates YD 986613. The mission was fired in support of the 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, and the weapons were silenced.

At approximately 1840H the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines reported receiving enemy mortar fire and started requesting counter-mortar fire. Within the next fifty minutes, four hundred and eighty-six rounds were fired to suppress the mortars. At 1915H a recon observation post reported observing muzzle flashes of NVA/VC mortars and requested permission of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines to attack the target. Permission was granted, and Battery “G” fired one hundred and fifty rounds of 105mm howitzer ammunition. At approximately 1930H during a repeat fire for effect with eighteen volleys of fire, a flash in the sky was observed after about four volleys had been fired. Immediately, two sets of helicopter lights were seen to turn on, indicating that the flash must have been a third helicopter hit by a round of 105mm howitzer ammunition. Events proved this conclusion to be correct. It was learned that this helicopter was proceeding on a medevac mission for the 2d Battalion, 7th Marines.
Submitted by Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association

Personal Narrative:
We were engineers at a bridge site with the 7th Marines. We had pulled two wounded engineers from a booby trapped area. A land evac was to pick up wounded – the jeep hit a mine killing driver and wounding me and another from artillery. UH-34 came while sun was going down and was hit by what looked to be rounds from hillside behind our position on Route 9. The chopper was hit in tail section and burned forward - watched crew fall from aircraft on fire. I'm sorry I can't say it any other way but thats what I saw - may they rest in peace.
Submitted by Russell Kersey, at the site when chopper was hit

Personal Narrative:
The H-34 was not hit by the NVA but by our own artillery [Btty G/3/12] from Camp Carroll. According to Marion Sturkey’s book “Bonnie-Sue,” on page 173 and 174, it was the only documented instance that a Marine helicopter in flight was knocked out of the air by our artillery. In addition, they had made a pick up of one or two WIA’s.

We were the chase aircraft. The H-34 had just picked up a WIA or two. They had been down in the zone. They had come out of the zone and were climbing for altitude and called for a SAV-A-PLANE [a request to the artillery command center for clearance away from artillery fire] and they got one. That is about the time they took the hit. We were about 75 yards behind them. They were hit in the pilots crew station. The rotor head went one way and the H-34 went straight down (on fire like a flare).
Submitted by Bennie Phillips, VMO-2 crew-chief on medevac escort gunship

Personal Narrative:
I occasionally return to this site to relive my past in Vietnam. I still think of that day and can't get away from it. I had seen plenty of action before this - however, this still haunts me some reason. I know the death of these fine Marines still hurt their families and I feel like I'm part of them.

3610 Echo Valley Cr.
La Grange,Ky.40031

Semper Fidelis
Submitted by Russ Kersey, witness

Personal Narrative:
The parents of Lt Dean Reiter, copilot, did not have any information regarding the incident other than an initial MIA report from the USMCR immediately after the incident. For many years, they “held hope” that their son would be returned. In 1998, 32 years later, Mr. Reiter contacted the USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Assoc regarding his son. Through our research, contacts, and eye-witness reports of the condition of the aircraft after the incident, it was confirmed to Mr. Reiter’s satisfaction that his son had in fact died in the specified incident; that there was no chance that anyone could have survived the incident and resulting fall or incineration. LT Reiter’s official files with the USMC are registered as KIA, but the family was never notified of this change in status from MIA to KIA. An examination of all personnel files involved in the incident indicates final registration is KIA. Mr. Reiter died the following year after finding out that his son had been lost in the original incident 30+ years earlier; finally with closure.
Submitted by Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association

Comment on Incident:
Capt. Phillip A. Ducat was a helicopter pilot assigned to HMM-161, Marine Air Group 16. On September 26, 1966, Ducat was assigned a medical evacuation mission in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. His copilot was 1stLt. Dean W. Reiter of the same Marine helicopter squadron and Hospital Corpsman Third Class Peter Robert Bossman, a U.S. Navy Corpsman. (NOTE: According to Navy records, Bossman was assigned to HMM-161, MAG-16.) When the helicopter was approximately 22 miles west of Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, the aircraft was hit by ground fire, burst into flames and exploded prior to impact with the ground. The crew aboard was killed, and the intense fire of the crash consumed all remains. Three of the crew of the UH-34 were listed as killed, body not recovered. They perished and cannot be recovered.
Submitted by John Lane, researcher,

LOSS COORDINATES:
LOSS COORDINATES: N16 46 56 E106 54 21

Personal Narrative:
On 10 April 67 one of our I Co. patrols out of Khe Gia bridge [a.k.a. Khe Gio Bridge at YD 026-561] recovered skeletal remains and ID which read Pvt. Arthur W. Green, 2149931, born 24 Jan 48.

3/9 S3 Journal 101645 Apr 67:
"Company I platoon patrol received approx. 12 rounds of S/A fire from YD 032568. Squad was sent to sweep area and found one USMC body with identification and helmet. Body returned to 3/9 CP. Body was found YD 028567, he could have possibly been a helicopter gunner as pieces of harness were found in the area, oil can uniform and flight helmet. ID read Pvt. Arthur W. Green 2149931 born 24 Jan 48."

No other entries on this matter. I have been back to VN 3 times and have been over the bridge twice but have not been able to go through the area due to the press of business (tour guide with Military Historical Tours). I aim to someday visit this site (and two others) to look for our missing brothers. Let me know if you want to come and maybe we can work something out.
Submitted by John Edwards, Sgt in 3/9

Personal Narrative:
Phil [DUCAT], Tom Kennedy and I were TAD from HMM-164 (H-46's} and volunteered to go to HMM-161 to fly H-34's on operation Hastings. HMM-161 was short of H-34 aircraft commanders and we had been 34 aircraft commanders. Shortly before Phil's accident I was sent Forward Air Controlling with the 3rd. Battalion, 7th. Marines on Operation Prairie, which was the follow-up to Hastings and in the same area. 3/7 was protecting a bridge in the area that Phil's helo crashed. We found many engine parts of Phil's helo and we found one of his boots. I knew it was his boot because of the way he kept them spit shined and the way he laced them with parachute cord.
Submitted by Larry D. Robinson, HMM-164, friend, TDY roommate at HMM-161

Personal Recollection:
I was flying in the vincity of Phil's aircraft when I and my crew saw the explosion, but were not close enough to know what it was. Upon return to Dong Ha, we were informed that Phil and crew had been shot down by our artillery.

While that summer and fall had been stressful for HMM-161, flying in the hills and mountains near the DMZ, the loss of Phil and his crew by a horrible mistake was shocking to me.

Over the years I have thought about Phil and his crew's losses to their families and how they were lost. Some of the other comments have answered this partially. Five years ago I wrote a letter to Phil to be delived to the Wall. It has not made it there yet.


Submitted by Chet Calkins, HMM-161 Squadron Pilot from 2/66 to 11/66

Information from TASKFORCEOMEGA:
Information from TASKFORCEOMEGA:
One of the earliest helicopters employed in Southeast Asia, and the primary Marine Corps helicopter used during the early years of the war, was the Sikorsky UH34D Seahorse. This aircraft was already quite old when they arrived in the battle zone. However, both the US and South Vietnamese military found them to be extremely effective throughout the war.

On 15 July 1966, Operation Hastings began as a search and destroy mission 55 miles northwest of Hue, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, to counter the NVA 324B Division located across the demilitarized zone (DMZ). In September 1966, Operation Prairie, the follow up to Operation Hastings, was underway in the Ngan Valley just south of the DMZ in the same location as its predecessor.

On 25 September 1966, Capt. Phillip A. Ducat, pilot; 1st Lt. Dean W. Reiter, co-pilot; Cpl. Vernon H. Parker, Jr., crewchief; LCpl. Arthur W. Green, door gunner; and HM3 Peter R. Bossman, corpsman; comprised the crew of a UH34D Sikorsky Seahorse helicopter on a night "dust-off" medical evacuation mission. The helicopter was to pick up Marines who had been wounded while engaged in heavy combat with enemy forces along Highway 9 in the jungle covered mountains during Operation Prairie. Weather conditions during this mission included a very bright full moon.

Highway 9 was a primary east-west road that ran from the South Vietnamese/Lao border nearly to the coastline where it intersected Highway 1, the primary north-south road that paralleled the coastline nearly the entire length of Vietnam. Highway 9 became a major part of the North Vietnamese infiltration route once they crossed into South Vietnam from the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail.

When North Vietnam began to increase its military strength in South Vietnam, NVA and Viet Cong troops again intruded on neutral Laos for sanctuary, as the Viet Minh had done during the war with the French some years before. This border road was used by the Communists to transport weapons, supplies and troops from North Vietnam into South Vietnam, and was frequently no more than a path cut through the jungle covered mountains. US forces used all assets available to them to stop this flow of men and supplies from moving south into the war zone.

Capt. Ducat was heard over the radio talking with the Artillery Command Center at Camp Carroll requesting a "SAVE-A-PLANE" vector away from the artillery fire support mission in which the Camp's artillery batteries were currently engaged. The command center gave him a specific sector for the medevac flight to safely operate in.

According to Ron Osborne, pilot; and Bennie C. Phillips, crewchief of one of the gunships; between 1900 and 2000 hours, the crew of the second Seahorse descended to the landing zone (LZ) to pick up some of the wounded Marines. After the wounded were secured aboard the medevac, the aircraft climbed for altitude to rejoin the rest of the flight that was waiting for it near the Rockpile at 4,000 feet.

According to two gunship crewmen, the flight was flying from the south toward the north and the demilitarized zone (DMZ) when Capt. Ducat radioed for a change in the order of aircraft in the flight in preparation to pick up other wounded Marines. Phil Ducat was in the process moving his aircraft into the lead when it was struck in the pilot's compartment by an artillery shell from Camp Carroll's artillery battery.

The two escort gunships were approximately 75 yards in trail behind the two medevac aircraft when it exploded. The crews reported they watched in horror as the medevac helicopter instantaneously turned into a fireball with the main "rotor head going one way and the aircraft itself going straight down on fire like a flare."

At the time of loss it was believed none of the crew was able to escape the fireball, and that the intense fire of the crash consumed all remains. Phillip Ducat, Dean Reiter, Arthur Green, Vernon Parker and Peter Bossman were immediately listed Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered.

The Seahorse crashed and burned just to the south of Highway 9 approximately 11 miles west-southwest of Dong Ha, 13 miles northeast of Khe Sanh, 16 miles south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and 17 miles west of Quang Tri City, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam.

Larry D. Robinson, another Marine helicopter aircraft commander, friend and roommate of Phil Ducat, was on temporary duty as a ground Forward Air Controller (FAC) with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines who were participating in Operation Prairie. This battalion was protecting a bridge in the same area where the medevac helicopter crashed and burned. This unit was also tasked with the ground search of the medevac's crash site. They found many pieces of the aircraft including a large number of engine parts.

According to Larry Robinson, they found one of Phil Ducat's boots. He said he immediately recognized it because of the way his friend kept them spit shined and the way he laced them with parachute cord. The search team also recovered two badly charred bodies. All the recovered remains were transported to a military mortuary where they were later identified as being Arthur Green and Vernon Parker. Shortly thereafter the remains were returned to the men's families for burial. The mortuary staff was not able to make any identification of Phil Ducat based only on one recovered boot. The recovery team believed the rest of the crew's remains were incinerated in the fire that consumed their aircraft.

As tragic as this loss is, it is also the only documented instance wherein a Marine helicopter in flight was knocked out of the sky by American artillery at any time during the Vietnam War.

While the crew of the Seahorse almost certainly perished that day in 1966, and the chance of recovering their remains is slim at best, each man deserves to have his remains returned to his family, friends and country if at all possible.

Personal Narrative:
I joined the Marine Corp in September of 89. My first duty station was 9th Engineers, located at Camp Hansen (right outside Kinville), where I picked up this bracelet from a POW/MIA rep at the local commissary.

Until this day I did not know the particulars about Capt Ducat, I had no idea what had happened. As I sit here trying to write this I feel hollow. I am not sure what to say and I dont know how to proceed. I can describe the braclet to you from memory as I cant tell you how many times I have sat and stared at it wondering who Capt Ducat was, what was his story in life.

I dont know how I feel about this now as I have a history and a face to go with it. I'll keep doing what I have done everyday since that time I first put the braclet on...I'll keep wearing it and wondering about who Capt Ducat was. He can never be forgotten as long as I remember.
Submitted by Daniel C. Landon Jr., Bracelet Wearer

HM3 Peter R. Bossman, Corpsman:





Submitted by MGySgt George Curtis, Popasmoke Admin

Capt Phil A Ducat:

Picture of Phil Ducat at my wedding
Submitted by Rich Granger, friend

General Information:
I just wanted to add that I am wearing an MIA/POW bracelet with PETER R. BOSSMAN'S name on it and for as long as I live I will never take it off nor will I ever forget. Thank you for his picture for now I can put a beautiful face to a beautiful name. My prayer is that even though his remains have never been found I hope that he is resting in peace and I pray that his family and friends have found closure.
Submitted by Kimberlee, Bracelet wearer, Peter Bossman

Family Information:
Research indicates this particular crash was by not by hostile fire, but rather friendly fire. I can supply the book where it is discussed if anyone is interested.
Submitted by Vicki Parker Lee, sister to Vernon H. Parker, Jr.